HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Board minutes 03-25-1996 PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
MEETING OF MARCH 25, 1996
The meeting of the Lexington Planning Board, held in Room G-15, Town Office Building, was called to order
at 7.48 p.m. by Chairman Davison, with members Canale, Colman, Planning Director Bowyer, and Assistant
Planner Marino present. Mr. Merrill arrived during Item 61 Mr Colman left the meeting during Item 65 Mr
Davies was absent.
****************** PLANNING BOARD ORGANIZATION, SCHEDULE *******************
57 Welcome to New Member. The Board welcomed new member, Steven L. Colman. who was elected to a
five-year term in the Town election on March 18, 1996.
58. Signature sheets for Registry of Deeds and Land Court: As required by State statute, the Board endorsed
signature sheets, required to be on file with the Registry of Deeds and the Land Court, reflecting the current
membership of the Board and staff members authorized to sign for the Board.
************************ ARTICLES FOR 1996 TOWN MEETING ************************
Citizens' Rezoning Petitions: Direction to the Staff to Prepare Reports to Town Meeting:
59 Discussion of General Procedures and Schedule for Zoning Articles at Town Meeting: The Board discussed
the public hearings held on March 4 for the three citizens' articles. Mr Bowyer outlined the contents of the
reports to Town Meeting and the likely production timetable.
60. Article 31 RS to RD Pelham Road. Grey Nuns: Mr Canale and Mrs. Davison reported on some of the
issues that came out of the Town Meeting Members' bus tour of sites that are the subject of rezoning petitions
to the Town Meeting. Regarding the 10 Pelham Road rezoning, some questioned the permanence of the
proposed 500 foot setback on the Grey Nuns property to preserve the "front lawn." Others felt that the petitioner
should offer more benefits to the town than those currently planned. Mr Canale wants to see the contents of
Appendix E of the Preliminary Site Development and Use Plan moved into the main body of the document.
Other issues discussed included. the tenant selection process, and the proposed marking of Massachusetts
Avenue to improve safety at the Pelham Road intersection.
61 Article 32. RO to CD Waltham Street. Gravestar Inc. The Board observed that Gravestar, Inc.'s (the
new property manager of the shopping plaza) proposal to use the rezoned parcel of land in Lexington for
parking and landscaping is reasonable. The Board is concerned though that the proposal is not part of a larger
plan to deal with the problems of the shopping plaza parking lot and traffic in the area. In all, there appear to
be many loose ends in this proposal. Mr Bowyer observed that there are not enough commitments from the
applicants at this point. The Board agreed to encourage the applicants to keep moving in the direction they are
going and to come back when the details are more firm. Mr Colman suggested that the applicant be told their
performance will be monitored over the year ahead. The Board agreed to recommend that Town Meeting
disapprove the current proposal.
62. Article 33 CS to RS. Marrett Road. Butler Realty. A number of questions arose in the discussion about
this rezoning petition for land at 581 Marrett Road. Are uses allowed in the CS commercial zone so uneconomic
that houses offer more economic return than businesses do? Maybe the concept of the CS district - to provide
a district for tradesmen and marginal uses -is not viable and residential property is too valuable. Perhaps this
land should be zoned for a different commercial use, e.g., neighborhood, or retail and shopping. Mr Marino f
presented a revenue comparison of the various zoning districts.
r
After more discussion, the Board agreed that the CS zone is an important part of the overall zoning scheme in
Lexington. But, based on the deep penetration of this piece of property into the adjoining single family
2 Minutes for the Meeting of March 25, 1996
neighborhood, it agreed reluctantly to recommend approval of Butler Realty Trust's petition to rezone these
parcels to a residential district.
Planning Board's Own Proposals: Direction to the Staff to Prepare Reports:
63 Article 28. Living Facilities for Seniors: The Board made a number of minor changes to the text of this
amendment to update the Zoning By-Law by adding terminology dealing with Assisted Living. Mr Bowyer
reported on a discussion with the Town Counsel who stated that including references to the Massachusetts
General Laws in the Zoning By-Law does not present a problem.
64 Article 29 Comnrehensive Revision of Section 9 of the Zoning By-Law. The Board had a general
discussion about the proposed revision of Section 9 They reviewed a document entitled "Explanation of
Changes." Some aspects of the report and the presentation to Town Meeting were discussed.
************ ADMINISTRATION OF LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS *************
RFCOMMFNDATTONS ON APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD OF APPEALS
65 Annlications To Be Heard on March 28. 1996.: Mr Merrill gave an oral review of the following
applications:
44 Homestead Street, Chung Ping and Joyce Cheng, variance to add a two-car garage with a walkway
connection to the house.
The Planning Board noted that the applicant did not adequately address hardship in the
submission they reviewed. The Board suggested that a one-car garage would be more
suitable.
19 Woodland Road, Bennett Sharples and Susan Harris-Sharples, variance to add a six-foot addition to the
side of the house
The Planning Board believes the addition is much too large and would overwhelm the lot.
It again noted that the applicant did not adequately address hardship in the submission they
reviewed.
The Board agreed to make no comment on the applications below also scheduled to be heard by the Board of
Appeals on March 28, 1996.
10 Muzzev Street (The Mews), Mother Earth, special permit to serve take-out food
40 Ledgelawn Avenue, Jorge and Claudia Lach, variance to construct new vestibule, porch and steps
SUBDIVISION OF LAND
66. Munroe Village. Release of Lots: Mr Marino reported that Todd Cataldo, the developer of the Munroe
Village subdivision, wishes to deposit surety with the Town in order to have lots released for sale. The
Engineering Department has approved the remaining "Cost to Construct" at $34,278.
On the motion of Mr Canale, seconded by Mr Merrill, the Board voted unanimously.
1) that the amount of surety for the Munroe Village Subdivision be set at $48,000 That this amount
includes: the total remaining "Cost to Construct," a contingency, an allowance for escalation of
construction costs and an allowance for the Town's administrative costs, and is the amount necessary
to hold until the completion of the community facilities and the subdivision. That this level of surety
is determined to be sufficient through March 25, 1997 only; and
2) if the subdivision is not completed by March 25, 1997, or if little or none of the work that remained,
Minutes for the Meeting of March 25, 1996 3
at the time this surety was posted, is completed by that time, and the current costs, of the amount of I
work to be completed, have increased, the amount of surety will be increased to reflect the costs of
completing the work and the developer will be required to furnish additional surety to the Planning
Board.
3) to accept surety in the amount of$48,000 in the form of Lexington Savings Bank passbook number
1080253, and
4) to release lots number 164F and 164G
The meeting was adjourned at 11,27 p.m.
4,uzi, ,
Frederick L. Merrill, Jr , Clerk